Oily skin: specific features in Chinese women.

Background/purpose: Inconsistent data are available on the various types of skin, their prevalence and characterization, particularly regarding Asian skins. This observation prompted to conduct a large study in China to assess the prevalence of oily skin and identify the specific factors related to that type of skin.

Methods: The multicentre trial involved 1787 Chinese women in Shenyang, Harbin, Beijing, Chengdu and Suzhou, between 18 and 65 years of age.

Towards understanding performance differences between approximate density functionals for spin states of iron complexes.

Density functional theory has been widely used to investigate the structural and electronic properties of heme-containing proteins such as cytochrome P450. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that approximate exchange-correlation energy density functionals can incorrectly predict the stability order of spin states in, for instance, iron-containing pyridine and imidazole systems. This raises questions about the validity of earlier theoretical studies.

[Value of MRI in the assessment of invasion depth by endometrial carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the value of MR imaging in the assessment of invasion depth by endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: Data of 122 patients with endometrial carcinoma proved by postoperative pathology were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperatively, all patients underwent conventional and contrast-enhanced MR scan.

Comparison of local recurrence and distant metastases between breast cancer patients after postmastectomy radiotherapy with and without immediate TRAM flap reconstruction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the local recurrence and distant metastasis of postmastectomy radiotherapy for breast cancer patients with and without immediate transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction.

Methods: Between March of 1997 and October of 2001, 191 breast cancer patients received postmastectomy radiotherapy: 82 patients had TRAM flap reconstruction (TRAM flap group) and 109 patients did not (non-TRAM flap group). The mean radiation dose to the chest wall or entire TRAM flap, axillary area, and lower neck was 50 Gy (range, 48 to 54 Gy).

GW bodies, microRNAs and the cell cycle.

GW bodies (GWBs) are cytoplasmic foci initially identified through the use of an autoimmune serum targeting the marker protein, GW182. GWBs were first considered as both storage centers for a specific subset of mRNAs and degradation sites for mRNAs. Interestingly, they are known to vary in size and number throughout the cell cycle and are largest in size and most abundant in number during the late S and G2 phases.

Disruption of GW bodies impairs mammalian RNA interference.

The GW182 RNA-binding protein was initially shown to associate with a specific subset of mRNAs and to reside within discrete cytoplasmic foci named GW bodies (GWBs). GWBs are enriched in proteins that are involved in mRNA degradation. Recent reports have shown that exogenously introduced human Argonaute-2 (Ago2) is also enriched in GWBs, indicating that RNA interference function may be somehow linked to these structures.

[Malfunction simulation by spaceflight training simulator].

Objective: To implement malfunction simulation in spaceflight training simulator.

Method: The principle of malfunction simulation was defined according to spacecraft malfunction predict and its countermeasures. The malfunction patterns were classified, and malfunction type was confirmed.

Controllable fabrication of carbon nanotube and nanobelt with a polyoxometalate-assisted mild hydrothermal process.

Carbon nanotubes, carbon nanobelts, and carbon nanoparticles can be prepared directly from active carbon powders by a polyoxometalates (POMs)-assisted mild hydrothermal process. After the hydrothermal reaction the POMs are changed into heteropoly blues, which can be converted into the POMs by a small amount of H2O2 solution.

Covalent assembly of shortened multiwall carbon nanotubes on polyelectrolyte films and relevant electrochemistry study.

A significant and versatile approach was developed for perpendicularly aligning multiwall carbon nanotubes on diverse substrates suitable for layer-by-layer self-assembly. The multiwall carbon nanotubes (s-MWNTs) used were shortened with oxidation under ultrasonic and functionalized with acyl chloride in thionyl chloride (SOCl2). The monolayer of s-MWNTs perpendicularly grafted to the substrate was obtained by dipping the polyelectrolyte modifying substrate into a tetrahydrofuran suspension of the functionalized s-MWNTs.

[Differentiation and increase of dendritic cells from umbilical cord blood in vitro].

The aims of this study were to analyze the composition of umbilical cord blood cells (UCBC), to examine the characteristics of dendritic cells (DC) before and after culture, to search the method of differentiation and increase of DC in vitro and to appraise surface antigen from UCBC. Twelve units of umbilical cord blood were collected from May 2002 to September 2002. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 9 cases were collected from healthy adult donors.

[Effect of acrylonitrile on the spermatogenesis in mice].

Objective: To observe the effect of acrylonitrile on the spermatogenesis in mice.

Methods: 50 male pubertal mice and 25 male adult mice were exposed to acrylonitrile (1.25, 2.

[Study on the relationship between the opacity of lens and the levels of 2, 6-dinitro-4-amino-toluene (DNAT) in the urine of workers exposed to trinitrotoluene(TNT)].

Objective: To find out the relationship between the opacity in lens and the contents of 2,6-dinitro-4-amino-toluene(DNAT) in the urine of exposed workers.

Methods: Testing the exposed worker's lens and measuring the contents of DNAT in the urine after work.

Results: When the opacity of the lens occurred, the contents of DNAT in the urine(2.

One-step water-assisted synthesis of high-quality carbon nanotubes directly from graphite.

At 1 atm pressure, high-quality multiwall carbon nanotubes were synthesized directly from graphite in the absence of catalyst by a one-step water-assisted method.

Overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in gastric mucosa of rats with portal hypertension: correlation with gastric mucosal damage.

Background: An increased biosynthesis of nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the hyperdynamic circulation and development of collaterals of portal hypertension (PHT) because of its potent vasodilatory effects. NO is synthesized from L-arginine by three different isozymes of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS, iNOS and eNOS). Thus, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) might account for NO overproduction in PHT.

[The trends and preventive strategies of esophageal cancer in high-risk areas of Taihang Mountains, China].

Objective: To analyze and predict the trends of incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer in areas of Taihang Mountains, and explore the strategies for facilitating the reduction of the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer.

Methods: The data were collected from Linxian and Cixian Counties registries between 1988-1997. The trends of the incidence and mortality rates for esophageal cancer had been fitted and predicted by the model of BP (Back Propagation) Neural Networks.

[Multi-bed & multi-parameter central monitoring system based on TCP/IP protocol].

Communication is one of the key problems to a central monitoring system. In this paper we put forward a central monitoring system using TCP/IP as the network protocol, Windows NT4.0 as the platform, forming a Intranet in a hospital.

[Expression of Bcl-2 and P53 Gene Proteins on Leukemia Cells and Its Correlation with Chemotherapeutic Efficacy].

To explore Bcl-2 and P53 gene proteins expression on human leukemia cells and their relationship with chemotherapeutic efficacy, Bcl-2 and P53 gene proteins expression was assayed by ABC immunohistochemical staining. Results showed that the expression rates of Bcl-2 and P53 gene proteins were 67% and 41% respectively in leukemia cells from 52 patients. While there was no difference of Bcl-2 protein level in ALL and ANLL, the P53 protein level was higher in ANLL than that in ALL (P < 0.

CerbB2 status in breast cancer: pathologic issues.

Introduction: CerbB2 status determination in breast cancer is currently performed for predictive and prognostic information. However, much has yet to be learned about the accuracy, reproducibility and clinical correlation of the different testing methods available today. This is a review of the testing methods commonly in use and their applications in the management of breast cancer.

Mutant K-ras oncogene regulates steroidogenesis of normal human adrenocortical cells by the RAF-MEK-MAPK pathway.

The result of our previous study has shown that the K-ras mutant (pK568MRSV) transfected human adrenocortical cells can significantly increase cortisol production and independently cause cell transformation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the active K-ras oncogene on the cortisol production in normal human adrenocortical cells. First we used isopropyl thiogalactoside to induce the inducible mutant K-ras expression plasmid, pK568MRSV, in the stable transfected human adrenocortical cells.

Unique K-ras mutational pattern in pancreatic adenocarcinoma from Taiwanese patients.

To assess the prevalence and spectrum of K-ras mutations in Taiwanese patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, we analyzed 20 patients of ductal adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. The study included K-ras mutations that were detected using DNA direct sequencing analysis of the polymerase chain reaction products and confirmed by reverse sequencing primers. The results showed that K-ras codon 12 mutation was detected in 90% of the cancer tissues (18/20).

External beam radiation therapy for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor impact on prognosis. Many of these tumors may cause intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases. From January 1991 to December 1996, 41 unresectable HCC patients with PVT underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to the portion of PVT.

A phase III study of adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, we conducted a randomized Phase III trial comparing radiotherapy (RT) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy to RT alone in patients with advanced NPC.

Methods And Materials: Between November 1994 and March 1999, 157 patients with Stage IV, M(0) (UICC/AJCC, 1992) advanced NPC disease were randomized to receive standard radiotherapy, as follows: 35-40 fractions, 1.8-2.

Morphologic change and elevation of cortisol secretion in cultured human normal adrenocortical cells caused by mutant p21K-ras protein.

In our previous study on the tumorigenesis of human functional adrenal tumors, we observed a high frequency of K-ras point mutations in clinical specimens. Furthermore, we cloned the mutated K-ras gene from the tumors and inserted it into vectors to transfect normal bovine adrenocortical cells to express the mutated K-ras gene. The mRNA level of steroidogenic enzymes such as cholesterol sidechain cleavage enzyme (P450SCC), 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450c17), and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD) in the mutant K-ras stably transfected cells were elevated.

[A case-control study on the risk factors of esophageal cancer in Linzhou].

Objective: To explore the characteristics of prevalence and influencing factors on the genesis of esophageal cancer.

Methods: A population-based 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted in Linzhou. A total number of 352 pairs of cases and controls matched on sex, age and neighborhoods.

Overexpression of the c-met protooncogene in human gastric carcinoma--correlation to clinical features.

Overexpression of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-met) has been detected in many human tumors. To investigate the possible involvement of c-met in human gastric carcinogenesis, we examined c-met expression in 45 patients with gastric carcinoma using Northern blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemical staining. The c-met mRNA expression was increased twofold and sevenfold in gastric carcinoma tissues compared to the adjacent normal tissues by Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR, respectively.